NIU-Maryland football opener
can reach 95 million homes
on Fox Sports Net broadcast

NIU’s 2003 home football opener Aug. 28 against Atlantic Coast Conference power University of Maryland is a “national game” in more ways than one.

The NIU-Maryland contest will be featured nationally on cable television, shown live and on taped delay to approximately 24 Fox Sports Net affiliates that reach an estimated 95,444,000 potential households across the country.

The joint announcement was made by NIU director of athletics Cary Groth and Fox Sports Net Chicago senior vice president/general manager Jim Corno Sr.

“This is a wonderful opportunity for Northern Illinois football,” Corno said. “To be showcased on national television against a strong team such as Maryland gives coach Novak and his players a forum to show the nation exactly what Huskie football is all about. We’ve been partners with NIU intercollegiate athletics for many years and Fox Sports Net is happy to be doing this game on a national basis. It’s a great game for Fox Sports Net, too.”

For the hosts, the telecast represents the second national TV game to originate from Brigham Field at Huskie Stadium in DeKalb and the fifth time that NIU football has appeared on national television.

“No doubt, it’s great exposure for our football program,” said Huskie head coach Joe Novak.

“Last winter, when we were recruiting in California and Florida, recruits had seen our Wake Forest, Wisconsin, Bowling Green and Toledo games on TV. Being ranked No. 13 in one pre-season poll, Maryland is a national opponent. They (UM) might be the best team ever to play in our stadium. It’s certainly a challenge for us. Hopefully, our local fans will come to the game and duplicate that electric atmosphere we had last November for the Bowling Green game. We appreciate Fox Sports Net doing our games.”

The NIU-Maryland tussle will be carried locally by Fox Sports Net Chicago.

On the East Coast, the regional showdown will be carried on NewsChannel 8 in Washington, D.C., and CN8 in Baltimore. Dave Kaplan and Tom Waddle, both of WGN-AM radio in Chicago, will provide the play-by-play and color analysis respectively. The kickoff for the NIU-UM game is tentatively scheduled for 6:35 p.m.

Other major cable outlets for the NIU-Maryland game include Fox Sports Net Arizona, Fox Sports Net Bay Area, Fox Sports Net Florida, Fox Sports Net Midwest, Fox Sports Net Ohio, Fox Sports Net Detroit, Fox Sports Net Wisconsin, Fox Sports Net New England, Fox Sports Net North, Fox Sports Net Northwest, Fox Sports Net New York, Fox Sports Net Pittsburgh, Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain, Fox Sports Net Southwest, Fox Sports Net South, Fox Sports Net West, and Comcast Sports Net Philadelphia.

In 1992, the NIU-Southern Mississippi game from Huskie Stadium appeared live on SportsChannel America, a predecessor to Fox Sports Net. NIU football has appeared on national ESPN telecasts three times: the California Bowl game in Fresno, Calif., vs. Cal State Fullerton in 1983; at Nevada-Las Vegas and vs. running back Ickey Woods in 1987, and at Northwestern in 1990.

In addition, NIU’s 97th Homecoming game Oct. 18 vs. Mid-American Conference West Division rival Western Michigan will be shown live on Fox Sports Net Chicago at 3:05 p.m.

8-18-03